Victory Cruise Lines New England Cruise Review

Cruising the New England coast on Victory II

On a glorious September Sunday, we counted it a great honor to have a glimpse of the stunning Portland Head Lighthouse, which is located on the wild Maine Coast. When I found out that Victory Cruise Lines offered a New England Coastal cruise on their newest ship, Victory II, I was immediately interested in booking a trip there. For years, a trip to New England had been at the top of my list of must-do vacations.

When it was first introduced to the public in 2004, Victory II was initially given the names Cape Cod Light and Sea Discoverer. In July 2018, the vessel with a capacity of 202 passengers underwent renovations and was renamed the Victory II. It is almost an exact replica of its sister ship, Victory I, which was constructed in 2016.

Victory II’s shore excursions are led by experienced local guides and focus on the destination(s) of interest. These tours are included in the cruise fare.

The Maine city of Portland

Beautiful Victorian mansions with breathtaking views of the ocean may be seen along the tree-lined avenues of Portland, Maine. Richard, our tour guide, showed us some elegant residences that had been constructed for ship captains so that they could look down and view their vessels in the harbour. Condominiums now stand in their place.

Wharves used for active fishing may be found along the waterfront of the Old Port, in addition to warehouses that have been renovated into restaurants, stores, and museums. A variety of mouthwatering seafood is available at the restaurants along the water’s edge that are owned and operated by locals. This city of 70,000 relies heavily on fishing, lobster and other types of seafood tourism to keep its economy afloat.

Along its rough and rugged coastline of 3,500 miles, Maine has eight lighthouses that are currently in use. Amtrak service to Boston departs every hour from here. We spotted the Bush family compound while we were touring the beautiful adjacent town of Kennebunkport.

Location in Maine: Bar Harbor

At the sophisticated Bar Harbor Inn, we had a delectable meal that included clam chowder, lobster rolls, and potato salad, followed by a slice of homemade blueberry pie for dessert. The views that could be had from the dining room were particularly breathtaking. Shoppers had a good time looking around in the various stores. We were on a motor coach tour of Acadia National Park, and our guide drove us up to the top of Cadillac Mountain to a spectacular overlook.

Town of Provincetown, located in Massachusetts

We embarked on a trolley tour at the most westerly point of the Cape Cod peninsula, which carried us to the 1,200-foot McMillan Pier as well as the central business centre. The compelling displays at the Provincetown Museum describe the difficulties that the Mayflower pilgrims encountered during their stay in Provincetown, which lasted for five weeks prior to their departure for Plymouth, Massachusetts. Pilgrim Monument is a granite structure measuring 252 feet tall that was finished in 1910 to commemorate the first landing of pilgrims in 1620.

The city of Newport in Rhode Island

When one is at Newport, one must naturally focus on the various mansions. The tour guides from the Preservation Society took us to mansions that were originally owned by wealthy and famous people who frequented the area during the Gilded Age, which lasted from the 1880s to the 1930s. The ornate architecture that can be found in Newport, Rhode Island, has earned the city the nickname “America’s Versailles.” The Elms, the summer house of coal mogul Edward Berwind and his family, was open for our group to see.

The Breakers, the most opulent of all of Newport’s summer mansions, is a visible representation of the Vanderbilt family’s wealth. Cornelius Vanderbilt, a powerful figure in the railroad industry, and his family used to spend the summers at this house. Visitors gain an understanding of the ways in which new home technology, such as electricity, elevators, modern plumbing, and contemporary laundry facilities, impacted daily living. The Vanderbilt family’s open-air sitting area provided them with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Martha’s Vineyard, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

As we travelled around the six small towns that make up Martha’s Vineyard, we saw hundreds of colourful gingerbread cottages, grand Victorian houses, and black-and-white saltbox homes in other island settlements. Martha’s Vineyard is made up of six small towns.

A multitude of fishing communities, picturesque lighthouses, and beautiful beaches may be found along the route. Produce that is grown locally can be purchased on the honour system at roadside stalls. Our tour guide took us to see some stone fences that were over 300 years old, the oldest general store in the United States, and the location where the film Jaws was shot using local people as extras. The opportunity to take pictures in front of the Gay Head lighthouse, which was built in 1799 and is one of five lighthouses on Martha’s Vineyard, was a pleasure.

On the island that has a permanent population of 27,000 people, restaurants serving fast food are not allowed. Between the years 1700 and 1860, whaling was a major industry, and there are still a few sheep farms today. Tourism is the primary industry driving the modern economy.

As we got glimpses of the mansions of wealthy and famous people, such as the Kennedys, the Obamas, and Hollywood stars, we were treated to intriguing tales about their lives. People who have the financial means to live elsewhere often choose to do so in Martha’s Vineyard due to its slower pace and greater sense of privacy.

At the helm of the Victory II

The Great Lakes Lounge offered guests an evening complimentary cocktail hour each and every night. Every day, after dinner and during the cocktail hour, music was performed by skilled musicians from Florida.

Guests of the Victory II were given the opportunity to attend onboard seminars when the ship was not in port. Topics included photography using smart phones, ship navigation, New England lobsters, whales, and other types of wildlife. Trivia, wine tasting and food matching classes, and galley tours were among the most popular activities for groups. Guests were urged to share their experiences on board by participating in a photo contest. The majority of our visitors were well-traveled retirees who are also avid learners.

The pastry chef provided freshly baked treats for each of the three specialised afternoon teas that were offered. The guests at the Viennese tea were treated to music by Mozart while they choose their confections from a table.

The dining crew on the Victory II lived up to the reputation that cruises have for serving delicious food. Coffee and cakes were ready for the early birds at six in the morning. The diners enjoyed dishes that were flavorful, expertly seasoned, and beautifully presented. The guests had the option of dining in the Victory dining room located on deck 1 or in the Lighthouse Bar & Grille located on deck 4, where they could prepare their entrees on tabletop hot rock lava grills. The lunch buffets on this beautiful balcony were very popular.

Every voyage with Victory Cruise Lines comes with complimentary activities ashore, internet access, meals, and open bar service throughout the ship. Our vacation started off with a smooth embarkation at the cruise port in Gloucester, which is located about 50 kilometres north of Boston. At a cost of $5.25 for each passenger, we travelled from North Station in Boston to Gloucester using a commuter train. Kind members of the train crew as well as several passengers cheerfully assisted us in offloading our luggage.

It came all too quickly, but the time had come to say goodbye to the kind officers, foreign crew, and new friends we had made on the ship.

I am disclosing that I travelled as a passenger on the Victory II, which is operated by Victory Cruise Lines. This does not in any way affect my capacity to be objective, and all thoughts expressed here are solely mine.